Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Hector Martinez-Perez-Cejuela, Maria Maddalena Calabretta, Valerio Bocci, Marcello D'Elia, Elisa Michelini
Summary: ATP determination is commonly used for microbial contamination assessment in different settings. However, commercially available kits require controlled temperature storage and transportation, limiting their applicability. To address this issue, a new bioluminescence paper biosensor was developed by combining a new luciferase mutant with a metal-organic framework (MOF). This sensor showed improved bioluminescence signal and stability, and successfully analyzed ATP content in complex biological matrices with low detection limits. The developed sensor has potential applications in various fields requiring ATP monitoring.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yuki Ohmuro-Matsuyama, Keiko Gomi, Takuya Shimoda, Hideki Yamaji, Hiroshi Ueda
Summary: The study developed a protein-protein interaction assay, FlimPIA, based on mutant firefly luciferases, improving the stability and sensitivity of the assay system through strain modification and mutant screening.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Larissa Souza Passos, Levy Carvalho Gomes, Tatiana Miura Pereira, Helen Sadauskas-Henrique, Giorgi Dal Pont, Antonio Ostrensky, Ernani Pinto
Summary: The study revealed weak mutagenic response of the cyanobacterium in the Ames test but various negative effects on fish, including oxidative stress, enzyme inhibition, micronucleus formation, and osmoregulatory disorders. No guanitoxin accumulation was detected in fish tissues, highlighting the need for regulation and monitoring of this toxin in freshwater ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Savas Ustunova, Aysu Kilic, Huri Bulut, Ebru Gurel-Gurevin, Ali Hikmet Eris, Ismail Meral
Summary: Thymoquinone has protective effects on learning and memory abilities as well as hippocampal oxidative stress caused by electromagnetic field radiation. Thymoquinone treatment improved the performance and restored the biochemical markers in radiation-exposed rats.
TOXICOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ali Pourbehzad, Mohammad Ranjbar, Reza Zabihi
Summary: Due to environmental concerns, there is a growing demand for natural surfactants in drilling fractured reservoirs. This research aims to produce lightweight fluids using a combination of natural materials and evaluate their effects on stability and drainage. The results showed that the optimal concentration of natural materials delayed the drainage of the fluid and the use of natural material mixtures provided better stability compared to the base fluid.
ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Kun Lu, Yun-Chung Hsiao, Chih-Wei Liu, Rita Schoeny, Robinan Gentry, Thomas B. Starr
Summary: Cancer, the second leading cause of death globally, is closely linked to the formation of DNA adducts. Differentiating the sources of DNA adducts is crucial for cancer risk assessment. The use of SILMS has shown significant advancements in quantifying and distinguishing exogenous and endogenous DNA adducts.
CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Daria S. Chulpanova, Leysan G. Tazetdinova, Svetlana S. Arkhipova, Mikhail O. Mavlikeev, Aysilu Mullagulova, Albert A. Rizvanov, Valeriya V. Solovyeva
Summary: The development of imaging techniques in experimental oncology enables continuous monitoring of tumor growth and development in vivo. In this study, fluorescent or bioluminescent proteins were introduced into cells to create tumor models. The results showed that after in vivo administration, the fluorescence intensity of the expressed proteins was significantly higher than the bioluminescence intensity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sogand Sasan Moghadam, Maryam Ghahramani, Kazem Khoshaman, Ahmad Oryan, Ali Akbar Moosavi-Movahedi, Boris Kurganov, Reza Yousefi
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of peroxynitrite (PON) and methylglyoxal (MGO) on alpha A-crystallin (alpha A-Cry) and found that the reaction of these compounds led to the formation of new chromophores, changes in protein structure, reduction in oligomer size, and increased chaperone activity of alpha A-Cry. Ascorbic acid and glutathione were able to reverse these effects. The results suggest that the lens antioxidant defense system, particularly glutathione, can provide strong protection against diabetic cataract.
BIOCHEMISTRY-MOSCOW
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
M. Roodaki-Lavasani-Fard, S. Sinha, C. Soens, G. A. E. Vandenbosch, K. Mohammadpour-Aghdam, R. Faraji-Dana
Summary: A novel strategy is proposed to design microstrip antenna arrays with two wide bands for high-frequency applications using any-layer HDI PCB technology. Several antennas are designed and taped out to illustrate the new procedure. The antennas cover two wide frequency bands with excellent performance in matching and intraband coupling.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Matin Ramezani, Arman Zeinaddini Meymand, Fariba Khodagholi, Hamed Mohammadi Kamsorkh, Ehsan Asadi, Mitra Noori, Kimia Rahimian, Ali Saberi Shahrbabaki, Aisa Talebi, Hanieh Parsaiyan, Sepideh Shiravand, Niloufar Darbandi
Summary: This article reviews the impact of medicinal plants, particularly those rich in flavonoids, on cognitive dysfunction, learning and memory loss, and explores their underlying signaling pathways. It is suggested that flavonoids contribute to the improvement and prevention of learning, memory deficits, and cognitive dysfunction through the regulation of neurotransmission systems and enhancement of neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal survival.
NUTRITIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Jalil Mehrzad, Taghi Zahraei Salehi, Alireza Khosravi, Saman Hosseinkhani, Yaser Tahamtani, Ensiyeh Hajizadeh-Saffar, Maedeh Moazenchi, Amir Mohammad Malvandi
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of aflatoxins on rat pancreatic islet cells, finding that these environmental toxins can impair the quality and function of the cells, potentially leading to endocrine disorders such as type-2 diabetes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abdulrahman Ghasemlou, Vuk Uskokovic, Yahya Sefidbakht
Summary: The impact of 10 mutations and 5 proximity-related mutations on the main protease of SARS-COV-2 was investigated, providing a new target for drug design against COVID-19. Multiple new compounds were obtained through docking and structure-based design, and the best compounds were selected through screening and prediction. Among them, NE1 compound, modified from Nelfinavir, showed the highest affinity and is the best candidate for further Mpro inhibition and drug development studies.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Amirali Hatamkhani, Reza Faraji-Dana
Summary: This article proposes a full-wave numerical approach called stochastic method of moments (SMoM) for analyzing the effects of uncertainties in the locations of elements in a random antenna array on its performance characteristics. The proposed method converts the integral equation into a matrix equation with closed-form functions, and applies MacLaurin's series expansions to find the stochastic current distributions on the array elements. The method provides fast computation, controllable accuracy, and its results are verified against the Monte Carlo method.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Fatemeh Bayani, Negin Safaei Hashkavaei, Vladimir N. Uversky, Sina Mozaffari-Jovin, Yahya Sefidbakht
Summary: This study investigated the impact of mutations in the NTD and RBD domains of the spike protein on the development of COVID-19 vaccines using computational analysis. The results showed that long glycans can reduce the accessibility of protein epitopes, thereby affecting the binding efficiency and neutralizing potency of specific antibodies. Additionally, the presence of long glycans enhanced the stability and affinity of the RBD to ACE2. The study also identified key residues that play a role in increasing the structural stability of the protein. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the structural changes in the spike protein and have implications for the development of novel therapeutics.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Zahra Bahaeddin, Fariba Khodagholi, Forough Foolad, Fatemeh Emadi, Fatemeh Alijaniha, Shima Zareh Shahamati, Romina Tavassoli Yousef Abadi, Mohsen Naseri
Summary: The study found that consuming almonds during pregnancy can improve memory, reduce anxiety-like behavior, and enhance stress adaptation in adult offspring. Molecular assessments showed that almonds positively influenced cyclic AMP response element-binding proteins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the brain, while inhibiting the activity of certain enzymes.
NUTRITIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Mohamad J. Hajiahmadi, Reza Faraji-Dana, Christophe Caloz
Summary: We present a metasurface-based system for microwave hyperthermia treatment of brain tumors, employing a time-reversal technique for optimal focusing. Compared to previous array-based systems, this system offers superior focal resolution and lower complexity and cost.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fatemeh Bayani, Negin Safaei Hashkavaei, Mohammad Reza Karamian, Vuk Uskokovic, Yahya Sefidbakht
Summary: Computational studies are effective in treating and preventing viral infections. Researchers designed a multi-epitope vaccine against the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 and found stable interaction with TLR-4. The vaccine showed significant immune response in simulations. In-vivo and in-vitro research are needed for confirmation.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sedigheh Abedanzadeh, Babak Karimi, Zainab Moosavi-Movahedi, Omid Pourshiani, Alireza Badiei, Ali A. Moosavi-Movahedi
Summary: Artificial enzymes resembling natural enzymes were developed using a rational design approach to simulate the coordination sphere around the iron active center. Periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) materials were used as supports due to their unique properties, and a new peroxidase-like nanozyme was fabricated. The biomimetic pathways used in this study showed potential for the development of nanozymes with excellent thermal stability and long-term storage stability.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fatemeh Bayani, Negin Safaei Hashkavaei, Sareh Arjmand, Shokouh Rezaei, Vuk Uskokovic, Mahdi Alijanianzadeh, Vladimir N. Uversky, Seyed Omid Ranaei Siadat, Sina Mozaffari-Jovin, Yahya Sefidbakht
Summary: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the current approved vaccines have shown considerable efficacy. However, the ongoing pandemic and the potential emergence of new strains highlight the need for further vaccine development and improvement. Subunit vaccines, based on synthetic peptides or recombinant proteins, have advantages such as safety and precise immune targeting, making them a promising option for widespread global use. This review article summarizes the current knowledge on different vaccine platforms, with a focus on subunit vaccines and their advancements in clinical trials against COVID-19.
PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mahdie Rahban, Parviz Norouzi, Zainab Moosavi-Movahedi, Ali A. Moosavi-Movahedi
Summary: This study introduces a new method, FFTCCV, for determining the reversibility of catalase activation upon injection of different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The results show that catalase can rapidly decompose H2O2 at concentrations below 40 mM, but its activity gradually decreases at higher concentrations. The irreversibility of catalase is triggered at a concentration of 80 mM, and the catalase activity can be recovered at lower concentrations of H2O2 after multiple injections.
MOLECULAR CATALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Masoud Roodaki-Lavasani-Fard, Reza Faraji-Dana, Karim Mohammadpour-Aghdam, Guy A. E. Vandenbosch
Summary: The performance of mobile phone antennas is affected by their environment, but there is no standard criterion to evaluate their environmental sensitivity. In this study, a figure of merit (FOM) based on antenna radiation characteristics is introduced. The FOM is then represented using characteristic modes (CMs) to better understand the impact of the environment on antenna radiation modes. This knowledge allows designers to develop less-sensitive antennas. The proposed FOM is applied to various mobile phone antennas from the literature to demonstrate its applicability.
IEEE ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION MAGAZINE
(2023)
